Cartridge-loading machine



(N0 Mode l.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

, L-. B. CROSBY.

CARTRIDGE LOADING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 2, 1895.

INVENTOR LEW/5 B. Ofloaar ATTORNEY WITNESSES (No Model.) 7 v '3SheetSheet 2.

L. B. CROSBY. 5

. CARTRIDGE LOADING MACHINE.

No. 536,685. Patented Apr.. 2, 1895.

BY ,%W.

ATTORNEY x 'I 6 I .9 35 u i 4 52 l q u w-i 51 I 25 l 15 21 HHHI l1] L 22WITNESSES: 1 1 E E 23 INVENTOR I Llfw/s 5.630352 g 1 I i I I (No Model.)3 Sheets-Sheet 3. L. B. CROSBY. CARTRIDGE LOADING MACHINE.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 2, 1895.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS B. CROSBY, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

CARTRIDGE-LOADING MACHINE.

SFEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,685, dated April 2,1895.

Application filed November 27, 1 894- Serial No. 530,082. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS B. CROsBY,acitizen of the United States, and aresident of Danbury,in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cartridge-LoadingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cartridge loading machines, and particularly toa band operating apparatus, such as are commonly used for private,special, and accurate use. As designed my novel loader may be operatedby a single individual, and with but little practice, accuracy, speed,and regularity of loads may be accomplished.

It is the object of my construction to produce a machine which will becheap, durable, and simply constructed; alsoamachine which shall beeasily operated, and readily understood; further to provide for accuracyand regularity of loads whereby each and every shell, will be loaded apredetermined and like amount, both of powder and shot.

With the above objects in view I have devised the simple and novelmechanism illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure1, is a front elevation of the machine complete. Fig. 2, is a crosssection on lineA A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a detail perspective View ofthe wad receiver. Fig.4, is a sectional plan, on line B B of Fig. 1.Fig. 5, is a vertical section on line C C of Fig. 1. Fig. 6, is adetached side elevation of one of the measuring chambers.

Throughout the above figures the same numerals of reference denote likeor corre-' sponding parts. I

As will be seen the machine consists, first, of a main frame or base 1,provided with vertical walls 2 upon the rear, and a table 3. The frontedge of the base and table are semicircular as will be seen withreference to Figs. 1 and 4. Upon the rear of the table is secured a post4, in the top of which is hinged an operating lever 5. Upon each side ofthe post 4, is formed an arm 6 for the purpose of supporting the powderand shot magazines 7 and 8 respectively. Secured to the table 3 is alsoa bracket 9. This bracket serves as a guide for a plunger 10, the upperportion of suitable shield 17.

which is supported by means of apin thereof passing through a slot 11 inthe before mentioned operating lever 5. One end of a spring 12 isattached to the rear of this lever. and

the other end being attached to the before mentioned post 4, the actionof the spring being to retain the lever and plunger in a raised positionas shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Beneath the table, and to the base is hingeda shell retaining carriage 13. This carriage is for the purpose ofreceiving the shell, and supporting it while it receives the charges,including the wadding operations. It is provided with an orifice 14 atthe rear through which a screw 15 freely passes, and which serves as apivot for the carriage to be swung upon by means of its handle 16. (SeeFigs. 2 and 4.) The orifice 14 is provided with a The carriage isprovided with asuitable detachable shell chamber 18, which may befurnished in regular sizes. Said chambers are retained in the base ofthe carriage by means of a set screw 19. The carriage is in a forwardposition as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and is so retained against theaction of a spiral spring 20, by means of a springactuated pin 21 at thefront, said pin being designed to snugly fit into bores 22 and 23 of thebase. The carriage is drawn to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, forthe purpose ofreceiving and depositing the shell. In this position ofthe carriage it will be seen that the shell chamber 18 registers withthe opening 24 in the base. After an empty shell has been inserted intothe chamber 18 the pin 21 is disengaged from the bore 22, and thecarriage allowed to assume its normal or rear position. (See dottedposition Fig. 2.) From here the carriage is swung upon its pivot, to theleft or right, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4 for the purpose ofreceiving powder and shot.

Within the table and directly in line with the plunger is fitted a guide25 of suitable construction as is shown in detail in Fig. 3 and alsoappears in section in Fig. 2. This guide, like the shell chamber isfurnished in regular sizes and may be inserted or removed from itsbracket for different sizes of shells.

The ammunition magazines 7 and 8 are supported as before stated, atopposite sides of the operating handle and its plunger. They areduplicates of each other, with but the exception that the measuringchamberof one operates to the right, while the other throws to the left.Since these parts are alike I will refer to them with like numerals anddescribe them as one. The magazine proper is provided with a centralchute 26, through which the ammunition passes on its way tothemeasuringchamberimmediately below. This measuring chamber is of atelescopic construction, consisting of an outer shell 27 and an internalfrictional adjustable tube 28 which is adapted to be moved in or out asdesired, thereby increasing or decreasing the capacity of the chambers.These chambers swing upon axes which are supported at opposite sides inhangers 29 secured to the chute of the magazine. The said axes of thesechambers are provided with knurl wheels 30 by means of which they arerocked to, and from, the said chute, and funnels 31 secured in thetable. The chamber is further provided with a semicircular out off 32upon one side, upon which rests a spring actuated extension 33. (SeeFigs. 2 and 5.) This extension is firmly held down against the cutoff 32by a spiral spring 34 abutting against the top of saidextension, theopposite end of said spring being secured against an annular shoulderupon the chute. The purpose of this special connection between the mouthof the chute and the measuring chamber, is to insure a perfectly tightand positive connection thus preventing the eseapement of fineammunition.

From the construction just described relating to the chamber,itwillbeunderstood that said chamber may be adjusted to receive a predeterminedamount, with reference to the graduations marked B and N. (See Fig. 6.)In practice one of these scales are used to measure black powder, andthe other used for nitric powder thereby being able to make thenecessary allowance of one for the other. The charges are measured intothe chambers when the latter are in a position as at the left in Fig. 1.From this by means of the knurl wheel upon the axis of the chamber, saidchambers are rocked to the position shown to the right in Fig. 1. I

Having described the construction of my device, I will now proceed tobriefly describe its operation.

Beginning with the machine in the position shown in the severalprincipal figures of the drawings, the shell to be loaded, would beinserted into the carriage through the base (see Fig. 2) after which thepin 22 will be withdrawn from its socket, and the carriage thrown to theleft. (See dotted lines Fig. 4.) In this position the measuring chambersof the powder magazine 7 would be operated, thereby depositing thenecessary amount of powder into the shell.

the carriage is carried to the center again where the powder receives awad from above by the use of the plunger. After this Wad From thatposition sition again where theshot receives a wad,-

after which the carriage is drawn forward as seen in Fig. 2 in whichposition the shell is free to drop from the machine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a cartridge loadingmachine of the class described, the combination with suitable ammunitionmagazines provided with attached measuring chambers, of a shell carriagepivoted to the base of the machine and adapted to be swung to the leftor right to receive ammunition, and a spring retracted wad plungercentral between thetwo stations.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination withammunition magazines, of a chute extending therefrom hangers at eachside of the chute, an adjustable measuring chamber pivoted within thehangers, a semicircular cut off attached to one side of the chamber, aspring retracted extension surrounding the end of .the chute and fittedagainst said semicircular cut off.

3. In a machine for loading cartridge shells the combination with theframe work provided with ammunition magazines, of a plunger centralbetween said magazines, a shell carriage arranged upon the base andconstructed to swing in the path of said magazines and plunger, andopening through the base to admit of the introduction of a shell frombeneath.

4. In a cartridge loading machine the combination with the base and itstable, of a shell carriage pivotally arranged between said base andtable, said carriage arranged to permit of it being drawn forward toallow the introduction of a shell, means for retaining the carriageinsaid drawn position, and mechanism for returning the carriage to itsnormal position.

5. In a machine of the class described the combination with theframework and ammunition magazines, of a shell carriage pivotallyarranged beneath said magazines and be tween a table and base of theframe work, a detachable shell chamber secured within the carriage, adetachable guide secured in the table registering with said chamber whenin its forward position, an opening 24 through the base, the same forthe introduction of a shell when the carriage is drawn out.

Signed at Danbury, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut,this 20th day of November, A. D1894.

LEWIS B. CROSBY.

Witnesses:

JOHN 0. Downs, HARRIE 'l. HOYT.

